After over twelve months of end-of-month Instagram updates we’re changing it up a little around here. (Of course you can still follow @designcrush on Instagram.) While pictures really are worth a thousand words, sometimes it’s just nice to use the words instead. So for now we’ll be closing out each month with a much more verbal goodbye, with a nod towards Meet Me at Mike’s for the idea of this list. Join in if you’d like!
Making : lists of style props to use for a photo shoot I have later today Cooking : rarely, this summer has been crazy busy Drinking : lots and lots of H2O and iced tea Reading : the latest issue of The New Yorker Wanting : this move across half the country to be over already Looking : at photos that need edited Playing : Jenny Lewis’s latest – The Voyager Deciding : what pieces to put in a little Instagram sale I’ll be having in the next week or so Wishing : for more free time Enjoying : cuddles with my pups, Piper and Bebe Waiting : for college and pro football season to start Liking : this crazy cool weather we’ve been experiencing – 20+ degrees below normal! Wondering : what it will feel like to live back in my hometown Loving : how green my lawn is this year Pondering : whether I can wait another day to go to the grocery store Considering : whether or not to throw out my half dead orchid Watching : The Leftovers, Food Fighters, True Blood, Masters of Sex Hoping : for some great last hangouts with friends before I leave town Marveling : at how some of my best friends are all because of this site Needing : more coffee Smelling : the scent of recently fallen rain Wearing : my Marcel Warby Parker glasses Following : Jenny‘s house progress Wanting : carbs! Noticing : lots of State of the Blog posts lately Knowing : that I’m about to start a huge, new, awesome chapter of my life Thinking : about how I absolutely have to do laundry today Feeling : excited about closing on my new house! Admiring : risk takers Sorting : through every single possession I own Buying : super exciting things like home inspections and insurance Getting : lots of positive reinforcement and support Bookmarking : healthy diabetes-friendly recipes Disliking : how this summer is flying by Opening : the windows – WIDE Feeling : anxious
Last week I mentioned how I like to rely on a statement necklace to amp up what is usually a simple outfit on my part. But if you’re looking for a necklace that could easily do double duty as wall art you need to check out Vulantri‘s collection of contemporary jewelry. Architect Rene Kroondijk and jewelry designer Tantri W. Wulantri both bring their A game to their entire body of work.
Nothing to see here folks, just some exceptional mountain photography. Or is it? Artist Brendan Austin actually creates these rugged looking landscapes with crumpled paper. CRUMPLED PAPER. The images start with existing photography snapped by Austin on various trips, then through a whirlwind of folds, shadows, textures, reworking, and rephotographing Paper Mountains are born.
A few months ago I discovered Quercus & Co and immediately shared them with you. Since then I’ve happily added one of their incredible pieces to my home – the eat-in area of the kitchen to be exact, right next to my depression era kitchen cabinet. I chose this space to hang my Scarf in Freya No. 1 because I love the way the greys in the print play off of the wall behind it and the slightly darker shade on the wall adjacent to it. The artwork is actually printed on canvas which gives a great physical weight and texture to the entire piece. I’m hoping to use one of Quercus & Co’s more graphic wallpapers in a small area of my new house, too!
Disclaimer: I received product for this post. However, all words and opinions are my own as usual. Thank you for supporting the brands that help to keep Design Crush going!
These watercolored faces from artist Sylvia Baldeva are mildly eerie… which I of course love. It’s almost as though you’re looking at these beauties from underwater instead of from under layers of blurry, translucent jewel-toned colors.
After eight months of searching for the perfect home in Pennsylvania, I’ve finally found it. And made an offer. And am buying it.
You’ll have to forgive the shoddy realtor photos, but I don’t have any of my own. Because I’ve never actually set foot in this house. I KNOW. I’m buying it based on these photos and a video my Mom shot on her iPhone when touring it for me. Let me tell you, buying a place halfway across the country is no piece of cake! But I’m excited to share of these photos with you and take you on the journey.
Let me start by saying that this is not the type of house I thought I would end up with. Mainly because it’s not what I was looking for or like anything that’s ever been my taste. I’m clean lines, modern, open spaces. And without the renovations that have been done on this 1900 colonial I wouldn’t have given it a second glance. But a few weeks ago I spied it online, and then later that same day both my realtor and my Mom sent me a link to it as well. My response: I like a lot of the inside, but am not into the outside. And part of that still stands true, but it’s grown on me considerably. So about a week later I sent both of them to take a peek in person and the three of us all fell head over heels. As far as the facade goes, I’d love to add a wooden porch the width of the house that eliminates those three strange steps up to the front door probably about more than anything else. But like a lot of things I want to do to the interior, all in good time.
But you probably want to take a peek for yourself at the new Design Crush headquarters…
The floors throughout the first floor have been refinished and (supposedly) the entire place was taken down to the studs. This is the living room right off the left of the foyer once you come in the front door. I love the high ceilings that run throughout this level. Right off the bat I’ll be pulling down those curtains in the little windows flanking the floor to ceiling fireplace and painting out the gold piece in the middle of the mantle. Eventually I plan on swapping out that tile in the hearth and painting the entire space white. I’ve always liked the look of a clean palette and really want my furnishings to be what brings color and personality to the house. The stone fireplace is much better in person (or so I hear) and is comprised of uneven bits and pieces.
To the right side of the frame is a huge open doorway into the dining room. The photo online is awful, but what you’ll find are three large windows forming a bay on the outer wall and a small built-in that’s thankfully already white. Off of the dining room is a fully renovated 3-piece bath and a small hallway to the kitchen.
Nicely refinished, but those the cabinets are dated and only made fresh by a coat of paint. They’ll need replaced sooner than later. Glass tiling in kitchens and baths is a trend currently, but one that I’m not entirely on board with. (Are people getting hugely amazing deals on it? What is the deal?!) It will suffice for now, but the larger plan is to tear it out and do a half wall of white subway tile with white paint (again) above. I’m also debating whether or not I’ll replace the black granite with something different. The right wall in this photo has a cooktop (soon to be replaced with a range before closing) and a nook for the fridge. The opposite two walls are half white beadboard and half white paint. Completely livable at this point. In the corner they form I’m hoping to put up some open shelving for pretty cookbooks and serving pieces. One of my favorite parts – not pictured – are the beams on the ceiling. A total dream!
To the left there is also a doorway out to the deck and backyard, which we’ll get to in a minute, and a pantry. To the right is a doorway that leads around to a nook that has a door to the basement, as well as a hallway with a coat closet before you’re back in the foyer. I love the full circle layout a lot.
Which leaves us here. The front door to the right (not pictured) has a half window and needs a coat of paint and that’s about it. This staircase curves up and to the left with a window set about halfway up. I’m not at all keen about the carpeting that leads the way up to and covers almost the entire second floor. Eventually I hope to replace it all with wood that closely matches the first floor, but that will require some savings. In the meantime, it will be good traction for the dogs since we’ve never lived with stairs before.
The second floor has one small bedroom with wood floors that will be my office, and three other bedrooms that all look about the same. Like this. (Not nearly as dark and dingy as this shot implies.) Again, several windows forming a large bay and a seriously decent-sized closet considering this place was built in 1900! There’s also another fully renovated 3-piece bath.
Continue up a switchbacked set of stairs to the third floor finished attic. Those windows are on all four side and total showstoppers! Again, I’m not fond of the carpeting, but at least it’s all new throughout. This floor is actually comprised of two huge rooms, one of which I’m hoping to make the master and the other the walk-in wardrobe of my dreams. This plan all depends on whether or not the central AC that’s going in before closing can have its ducts run up all three floors. A bit of a challenge, or so I’m told. I’m not sure what plan B is if that’s not a possibility.
The back yard is a total blank slate, you can only see about a fourth of it here. Not large by any means but comparable to what I currently have. The deck is new and beautiful and I’m already imagining having my morning coffee on it, throwing parties, and about a hundred other things! I’m also looking forward to pillaging my green thumbed Grandma’s yard for peonies, lilacs, and poppies to plant.
Closing is scheduled for September 8th, so I hope to have some better photos for you at that point. Thanks for indulging me while I share the new digs!
Graphic tees are definitely a trend, and have been since about 1999. We just can’t seem to shake our affinity for pithy statements and bold declarations emblazoned on our chests. And when they’re this amazing, why should we even try??
Texas born, New York City livin’ artist Alan Reid manages to pull together three design elements in his paintings that I don’t believe I’ve ever seen employed together prior to this. Low-contrast, color blocks, and graphics. Honestly I’m loving the result. Reid makes a motley crew of elements pull together in harmony and manages to make you look deeper into his work all at the same time.
Designing to make an impact in the world is a noble cause, and it’s exactly what DAAME is attempting to do. Their bags – a mini cross body/fanny pack, a 13″ laptop tote, and a 15″ laptop tote – are made with women on the go in mind. Each piece is handcrafted in the USA and with high quality Italian leather and a specially engineered Japanese lining. You can feel good making a DAAME purchase because 5% of all profits go towards providing long-term services and education for girls in impoverished circumstances.
Because art is my bread and butter, I was completely thrilled when UGallery reached out and asked if I wanted to play guest curator for their online art gallery. YES, I replied without a second thought – nevermind that becoming a curator was a dream of mine before the reality of life set in. It was so much fun searching through all of the artists they carry, looking for just the right pieces. Here are five of my favorites, but you can see the entire collection of thirty here. (You can also check out UGallery’s other guest curators, I’m sure you’ll recognize a few!) These pieces and manymanymany more are all for sale should your walls look too barren.
